NEW YORK
A former New York attorney and former Nassau County legislator falsely billed one client for $2.2 million and later, falsely billed the client for $126,071.
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced David Deneberg on Friday to three months’ imprisonment and three months’ home confinement for defrauding a former client of over $2 million.
Denenberg, 51, previously pleaded guilty to eight counts of mail fraud in connection with this fraud scheme.
“Mr. Denenberg stole his client’s money and violated his oath as a member of the bar. Today’s sentence should serve as a reminder that in our nation, no one is above the law,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie.
“Denenberg diverted funds from his client’s checkbook into his own pockets through the false representation of legal services. Today we remind everyone of our commitment to identify those who misuse their position to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers; those responsible will not go unpunished,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez.
In his guilty plea agreement, between November 2006 and June 2014, Denenberg was a partner in the Garden City law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, formerly Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP and sent fraudulent bills to a client for legal services that he never rendered, according to authorities.
The client, a corporation based in Port Washington, New York, relied on Denenberg’s false billings and paid the law firm $2.2 million, officials stated.
During the same time period, Denenberg, of Merrick, New York, also sent fraudulent expense billings to the client for purported legal expenses, which were never incurred, totaling $126,071.43, according to officials.
In all, the client paid $2.3 million for legal services never rendered and expenses never incurred. Denenberg has made full restitution to the client, according to authorities.